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The Story of Ferdinand (Hardcover) (精装)
by Munro Leaf (Author), Robert Lawson (Illustrator)
| Category:
Tale, Classics, Ages 4-8, Children's books |
| Market price: ¥ 198.00
MSL price:
¥ 178.00
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| Stock:
In Stock |
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
This simple tale of a mild-mannered bull who loves to smell flowers but ends up in a bull fight is an absolute treasure. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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J. H. Sweet (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
This is an enchanting and timeless tale, and is everything a children's book should be. The message is not simply one of peace and commitment to an ideal, but also one of basic karma, existentialist philosophy of choice and responsibility, and the need for all to follow the Golden Rule.
The Story of Ferdinand lets children know it is okay to stay true to their characters, and will encourage them to think their way out of situations, rather than muscle their way out. Ferdinand's peaceful and contented nature is something all human beings should all aspire to.
Having been stung by many bees in my youth, mainly while traipsing barefoot through clover and accidentally stepping on them, I have great sympathy for our hero and the situation he finds himself in. The realization that even small events and actions can have a tremendous impact on our lives, and everything else that surrounds us in this world, is beautifully presented in this story. How Ferdinand chooses to deal with his plight at being taken away to fight is, of course, the heart and significance of this tale. His choice of poetic action is a perfect lesson in morality and provides the lasting appeal for this book.
I recommend this classic for all ages and peoples, especially in our troubled times. It has a wonderful philosophy of life message; and even if readers choose not to apply the lesson to real life, the charming tale of Ferdinand is worth reading simply for its power to delight and entertain.
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Dave Essel (MSL quote), Kazakhstan
<2007-03-12 00:00>
A charming story with drawings of real artistry and taste. I had this book as a child and wanted it for my children.
Plenty of other reviews rightly praise the book so I will simply say that, yes, of course, it's a five-star childrens' book.
One further thing needs praising, however: the quality of the actual book. This does the contents honour: first class paper and a lovely binding make the book an even more worthwhile purchase. It's wonderful that one can still buy things of such quality.
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Charles Ashbacher (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
I first read this book when Terri, the girl I had a crush on in the first grade, recommended it. While I didn't like it all that much in first grade, I remembered it and read it to my daughter when she was in first grade. Ferdinand is a bull that is growing up in Spain, and his favorite thing to do is to sit around and smell the flowers. The other bulls are fierce and fight all the time, which prepares them for the bullfighting ring.
Unfortunately, when the people arrive to select a bull for the next bullfighting exhibition, Ferdinand sits on a bee, which stings him and his gyrations appear to be anger and hostility. They select him, and transport him to the arena. When the moment of the fight comes, all of the men in the arena are afraid of Ferdinand, but he simply sits down and smells the flowers in the hats of the spectators. Nothing that they can do will get him angry, so they load him up and ship him back to the pasture where he came from.
My daughter loved this book when I read it to her, asking me to read it several times. It is a nice story for children, although it does cover up the true brutality of bullfighting.
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Amanda Richards (MSL quote), Guyana
<2007-03-12 00:00>
This is a classic children's story, beautifully illustrated, simple and unpretentious. Both children and adults will love the story of the unmotivated bull with the pollen habit.
Reading this aloud to your kids with the correct intonation is sure to raise giggles, one of the reasons it has been a favorite for so many generations.
What you DON'T know is what happened next......
1. The bumble bee died after taking on too much bull.
2. Ferdinand's mother named her next son "Killer" and encouraged him to hit his head as much as he liked.
3. Killer performed spectacularly at the bullfights, but was put out to pasture after he bit off the matador's ear.
4. The cork tree flourished, largely due to the daily fertilizer treatments.
5. Always a loner, Ferdinand never married, but got a job at the Spanish Botanical Gardens, in the cross pollination nursery.
Sadly, the sequel was never published due to lack of a publisher.
Enjoy book one as often as possible, because that's all you need, and that's all you're going to get.
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E. R. Bird (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
I love Robert Lawson and I love Munroe Leaf, but ladies and gentlemen these two men are definitely less great unless paired together. In undoubtedly my favorite children's book from the 1930s (so sorry, "They Were Strong and Brave"), these two titans of the picture book world created the most adorable story to have ever involved cork trees, bulls, and sweet smelling flowers.
Ferdinand is none too different from "The Reluctant Dragon". He may look fierce and strong, but underneath that hard exterior lies a bull that is perfectly content to just sit beneath his favorite cork tree and smell the flowers all day. Ferdinand was gentle even when young, and he has no desire to go needlessly ramming his head with the other bulls in the field. When some wonderfully illustrated men arrive to find a bull worthy of their bull-fighting arena, Ferdinand is accidentally selected as their choice. Once in the arena, however, Ferdinand proceeds to humiliate the matador and his cronies through simple peace-loving flower-smelling. In the end, Ferdinand is returned to his cork tree and the world is as it was.
There's a definite pacifist feel behind the old Ferdinand tale. In what other story will you have a creature not fight back despite all provocations, only to win in the end? Moreover, a male character that prefers pretty sights and smells to violence and uber-masculinity. Lawson's pen and ink drawings expertly compliment Leaf's tale. Through them we see the high balconies of Spanish towns, and the serene fields where little bulls may play. I was especially amused by the cork tree, from which actual wine corks hang. I suspect many a child has subsequently believed for years that corks really do grow on the vine as Lawson displayed them. Lawson isn't above other humorous tweaking beyond that. On the front and end papers of the book is an image of children gawking at a ferocious picture of "angry" Ferdinand. The poster goes on to advertise treats at the bull fight including "hot dogos" and "chocolato". Apparently any word with an appropriate "o" tacked on the end is instantly Spanish.
"Ferdinand" is the sweetest of the Leaf/Lawson tales. However you feel about the nature of violence (and about how it is almost required of the males of society) this is the quintessential story about being yourself. The angry over-masculine bulls may fight and brawl but peaceful Ferdinand is the one to outwit the men in the end.
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E. Rothstein (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
I recently rediscovered this favorite book from my childhood (which was 40+ years ago now), and fell in love all over again. Now my 4 year old daughter and I both get to experience the exquisite pleasure of Ferdinand on a regular (i.e. nightly) basis. The gorgeous illustrations and simple, powerful story of the biggest bull on the farm who would rather "sit just quietly and smell the flowers", is as moving today as it was when it was written more than 50 years ago. And I cannot think of a more important lesson to teach our children today: that it is o.k. to be yourself, even when everyone else thinks you should be something else. This is a sweet, lovely story for children and adults alike, and is one of the few books I look forward to reading over and over again. Luckily, my daughter agrees.
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John Thornton (MSL quote), Midwest
<2007-03-12 00:00>
This was one of my very favorite books as a child. Parents with young children would do well to read this book to them. It is the story of a young bull (Ferdinand) who learns to stay true to his own unique self. While all the other bulls all want to be mean and fierce, Ferdinand instead is a gentle and loving soul. Yet the situation comes where people try to force Ferdinand to comply. Ferdinand is taken to fight in the bull fights! Will he be faithful to himself, or will he go along with the crowds? Yes, there are deep morality questions and ethics here) Indeed, both parents and children will be touched by the timeless message of hope and strength that is Ferdinand. It truly is a book that children need to know and model.
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Alyssa Lappen (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
This book was my mother's favorite when she was a child. No surprise, she gave our son a copy when he came home, at age four, from a foreign land. Despite a lack of English, he was enthralled by the story and pictures. And when Gramma sang the Ferdinand song to him, that clinched it. This book is very special in our house, and this review is dedicated to our son, who asked me to write it. Buy it, and bond with your kid, however he came into your family. Alyssa A. Lappen
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Beth Hartford-DeRoos (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
Four words best discribe this wonderful book and they are peace, contentment, pacifist, and priorities. And in a day and age of school shootings I wonder what would happen if we made sure this book was read by all children and then discussed.
It is a wonderful book for teaching that some creatures including some people are peaceful and do not need much less seek fights. That when we are "stung" we may get mad but that we do not need to take it to the next step where we hurt, harm or kill. That we all have tempers but that we also can learn to make wise choices and develop sound priorities.
The book is interesting because it does teach something about the culture or history of bull fighting, as well as the fact that just because something has always been done doesn't mean it should or need continue.
I would caution that this is a book that a parent/caregiver needs to not just read but also discuss. Children may have some serious questions about bull fighting and the whole kill and die aspect. Just because a book has a good ending etc doesn't mean that questions in the middle of the book are not still there, and need to be answered.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-03-12 00:00>
Ferdinand, a nice bull, has a run in with a bee. A tiny little bee... with a BIG sting! When Ferdinand gets stung, he acts the way we all envision bulls acting. Everyone thinks he could fight in the ring, but he is happiest smelling flowers.
As a person who hates bees, and certainly did as a young boy, I can understand the reaction Ferdinand has. Youch!
As much as I love the book, it does leave off the horrid reality about bullfighting, how bulls are tortured and killed. As a kids' book, maybe it shouldn't, but hopefully, children get fooled into thinking bullfighting is just a game. Hence, my rating is only four stars.
Read it to your child, and explain what bullfighting it. At the very least, Ferdinand makes it clear he'd rather play in a meadow.
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1 Total 1 pages 10 items |
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